Schools

The Santa Clara County Board of Education voted unanimously July 16 to appoint Jon R. Gundry as new county superintendent of schools, effective Aug. 1.

The sole finalist for the position, Gundry currently serves as superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District. He has more than three decades of experience as a teacher, principal and instructional leader.

“The board is pleased to welcome Superintendent Gundry to Santa Clara County, and we are confident that he will provide the (county board of education) and its staff with the vision and leadership necessary to guide the organization’s advocacy, ensure efficacy and continue to provide students, schools and districts with the best continuum of services possible,” said board President Leon Beauchman.

Gundry deemed it a “great honor” to be selected as the new superintendent and said he looks forward to engaging with the community, including county staff, teachers, district and charter school leaders, students, families and community leaders.

“Ensuring that all children have access to high-quality instructional opportunities is at the core of the (county board’s) mission, and it is imperative that all of our students are provided with the support and tools necessary to reach their greatest potential,” he added.

Gundry’s contract with the board includes an annual salary of $295,000.

Prior to his tenure with Pasadena Unified, Gundry served as deputy superintendent of the Los Angeles County Office of Education from 2008 to 2010 and interim superintendent in 2010. He was responsible for the financial and academic success of 80 school districts serving more than 2 million children, with $16 billion in school district funding.

Gundry earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree in education administration from Houston Baptist University.